Improving productivity through trial and error

Most of the articles I write are focused towards helping you increase your productivity and develop as a person.

I write about this topic because I spend most of my time online, consuming content and getting a lot of information about this particular subject. I test all kind of methods to work better and learn new things, and when something works, I share it with you.

But I feel like there's something I should mention that a lot of people probably forget after being done with reading this type of content - you actually have to put in the work and see what works for you through trial and error.

Reading something that resonates with you and describes, more or less your situation is not the way to improve. You do that by "getting your hands dirty" and trying things yourself.

For example, if I write an article about how to create a better "to-do" list using a method I learned from another place, reading the article isn't enough. You need to actually try that method and see if you can improve your workflow.

And this applies to anything you read that seems interesting and is oriented towards helping you improve at something. Reading about it isn't enough. You need to actually do it. You need to see for yourself what works and what doesn't.

The main reason is that we're all different. Something I learned a while ago is that before trying to become an expert at something and being frustrated when you fail, you should instead focus on being competent and celebrate each achievement.

I even wrote about this in an article called Stop comparing yourself with the best of others where I also shared the article that inspired me to try and see things this way.

However, this kind of information, even if it had a big impact on me, it may seem useless to you. Maybe allowing yourself to be competent and looking at each achievement as a step forward is not the way you do things in an efficient way and actually focusing on becoming the best motivates you to try harder.

This type of information, the one I share with you and the one you consume from all kind of people, is often subjective. What works for some people may not work for others.

You need to learn how to try things yourself and to not be comfortable with reading something thinking you made progress. Take the time you need and try all the methods you read about that seem interesting to you.

See what helps you make more progress and what makes your life easier. Not everything will work, but when you'll find something that does, you'll be able to do certain things a lot better or faster and the quality of your life may even improve.

Be ready to take action when trying to improve and don't just settle with reading. That can get you far, but it isn't the only thing required for your life to change into what you want it to be.